Missouri Defends Christmas in the Schools

A new Missouri law has recently gone into effect that allows public schools and buildings in the state to observe Christmas, or any federal holiday, without restrictions. The bill was overrode by state lawmakers in September after it was vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon over public safety concerns.

House Bill 278 became law last week after the state's legislators voted to override Democratic Gov. Nixon's veto on the bill in September. Although the law does not explicitly mention Christmas, supporting lawmakers of the bill have said that Christmas was specifically in mind when the bill was drafted. The bill's text reads, in part, "No state or local governmental entity, public building, public park, public school, or public setting or place shall ban or otherwise restrict the practice, mention, celebration, or discussion of any federal holiday."